United at Last

A Handwritten Sentiment

     You wake up in a cold sweat, sun streaming in your eyes. You squint and shield your gaze with a sticky arm. You check the clock across the room, shit, it's already eleven thirty. You swing two legs over the side of the matress and look down at the sheets, a sweat screen print of your splayed body now ingrained into every thread. You will have to do the laundry today.
     As you make your way across the room to your bathroom you hear the Peloton whir into starting position. The pre-recorded trainer welcomes your husband, Brawn, to his thirtieth consecutive cycling session since his birthday. You roll your eyes, you should have listened to Moira and gotten him a shake weight instead, at least then he would have enough energy to pound you at night. You slip out of your silk night dress and into the too cold stream of Chicagos finest tap water, but you don't change the temp, not yet. You stand under the icy rain with your eyes closed. What was that dream about again? You couldn't remember the last time you had a cohesive dream let alone remember what it was about. Ridley always had a talent for that....... You jumped as Brawn flipped up the toilet seat.
"Jesus, warn me next time?"
"Sorry love, just gotta take a piss."
You roll your eyes again and turn the dial as far into "hot" as it will go.
     After a blistering, deep cleanse, full skin care routine shower thats definitely showing up on your water bill, you make your rounds waking up each child, alerting them breakfast will be ready in five. Regardless of it being a Friday, you'd rather not take the time to make anything other than the basics. Scrambled eggs for Alex, peanut butter toast with sliced banana for Monroe, and a single, dry, choco chip Eggo waffle for Jacklyn. And of course, apple juice and a bagel for you, no need to make Brawn anything, by the looks of the grocery list displayed on the Samsung smart fridge he had drank the rest of the vegetables.
     After tossing the plates in the dishwasher you followed your morning routine of hopping into your Gucci slides and checking the mail. Oh look, Jessica is out jogging, she waves to you, you white person fake smile back and pick up the stray cat, Nosfurgato, who is sunbathing on your driveway purr the usual. Sifting through the mail of the expected bills, coupons, and newspaper you happen upon a handwritten letter. The return address states no name, only an address in Goldendale, Washington. No name needed, you knew exactly who it was from and bounded excitedly back inside. You practically ran to your phone to call Kelsey, the sitter, and booked her for the weekend.
"Gonna fill me in?" Brawn piped up. "Are you taking me on a romantic getaway? Oh shit.... what anniversary is it... I mean I'm, happy aniversiberthvalenday?"
"No no shoosh, look!" You shoved the letter in his face.
"Am I supposed to know what this is?"
"It's an invitation from Ridley!! They've given us plane tickets to visit them. No questions, we ARE going."
"Remind me who that is again?"
You gave him a blank stare, everything goes in one ear and out the other for this man.
"We're going, start a bag."
"Alright alright..sheesh..better not be Delta."
_____________________________________________

~To the household of Y/N and Brawn~
You are Cordially Invited to the Homestead of........
~Ridley Kiln~
Your Room and Board Will Be Provided, as well as Providing Transportation
Please Bring Clothing to Accommodate the Climate and Various Activities
Toiletries will Also be Provided
This is and Adults Only Event, please act accordingly for this is a
~Sophisticated Establishment~
We have much Catching up To Do, I hope to See You All Here by Tonight
Sincerely.....
The Ridley Kiln